Editor’s Note: The Arkansas Razorbacks will face one of the toughest football schedules in the nation in 2008. The sports staff of the Northwest Arkansas Times ranked Arkansas ’ 12 upcoming games from least important to most important based on fan fervor, storylines and the effect a win or loss would have on the Razorbacks ’ season. This is the Hogs ’ ninth-most important game, part 4 of a 12-part series profiling the Razorbacks ’ opponents.

The times are changing for the better in Starkville, Miss. But have they changed enough for Mississippi State to snap a nine-game losing streak to Arkansas this year ?

With MSU head coach Sylvester Croom returning the majority of an 8-5 Liberty Bowl champion squad, and Arkansas first-year coach Bobby Petrino reloading after some major offseason losses, this season’s matchup seems to be the Bulldogs’ best chance in years to get the Arkansas monkey off their backs.

MSU likely sees Arkansas as the next rung on the SEC West ladder, but its recent history with the Razorbacks has been less than kind. The Bulldogs outgained the Hogs in yardage 501-429 last year, but still fell by two touchdowns.

ADVERTISEMENT

The program seems to be on an upswing, and Croom was recently rewarded with a new four-year deal.

OFFENSE Injuries and interceptions combined to remove Michael Henig from the quarterback position early last year. Henig’s struggles opened the door for true freshman Wesley Carroll, who nearly set the NCAA record for most consecutive passes without an interception to start a career. The sophomore-to-be Carroll is a threat with his arm or legs, and should improve with a full spring as the starter under his belt. The Bulldogs have another shoo-in starter at tailback, senior Anthony Dixon. Although the brutish Dixon (6-1, 240 ) was the league’s seventh-leading rusher last season (1, 066 yards, 14 TDs ), he hasn’t always stayed in his head coach’s good graces. Croom wants Dixon to maximize his potential, which would be bad news for MSU’s opposition. The Bulldogs’ punishing ground game took a major hit in the spring. Secondteam All-SEC tackle Mike Brown was dismissed from the team following an incident involving the use of firearms on campus. Now MSU will have to replace three starters up front. Senior Anthony Strauder and junior Craig Jenkins are still a load at the guard positions and hope to help the team improve on its 3. 5-yard rushing average from last season. The Bulldogs lose some experience at tight end and receiver, but do return the team’s leading pass-catcher from last season, Jamayel Smith. Big passing plays weren’t a big part of the Bulldogs’ attack in 2007, something Croom hopes to change. “ We have worked extremely hard on our play-action passing game and throwing the ball up the field, ” Croom told USA Today during last spring’s practices. “ We intend to throw the ball down the field this year. ”

DEFENSE While the MSU defense looks as talented, or more talented, than last year’s unit, it did lose some lockerroom leaders like end Titus Brown. A pair of 300-pounders — Kyle Love and Jessie Bowman — return to clog up the middle of the defensive line. MSU’s secondary returns almost all its starting experience from last year. Senior free safety Derek Pegues is back off a first-team All-SEC performance last season. He had 50 tackles, five interceptions and seven pass deflections in 2007. He’s also a dangerous punt returner. Cornerback Anthony Johnson broke his ankle against Ole Miss, but should be good to go this fall. While Arkansas may be looking for warm bodies to fill its linebacker spots this fall, MSU is blessed with depth at the position. Hardcharging middle ‘ backer Jamar Chaney will be key to the defense’s success this season. Weakside man Dominic Douglas is back off a solid 2007, and new starter K. J. Wright is brimming with potential.

• • • The difference-maker: Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick had one of the best outings of his college career against Mississippi State’s stout defense last year. The Bulldogs return all their starters to the secondary, the same secondary Dick torched for four touchdown passes last November. But will Dick have the same success through the air without the threat of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the backfield ? The deal-maker: This game could very well represent the sixth victory needed for bowl eligibility for one, or even both, teams. If that’s the case, expect a real slobberknocker. This game is almost always big just because it’s a late-season conference matchup. The deal-breaker: MSU has lost nine straight and 12 of the last 13 games to Arkansas. Razorback fans have come to view this game as a more-than-likely victory, and usually more of a tuneup for LSU. And for basically the last decade, MSU has become accustomed to dropping the Arkansas game and getting geared up for instate rival Ole Miss.